Multiple story multiple unit building

ABSTRACT

A MULTIPLE STORY MULTIPLE UNIT BUILDING IN WHICH EACH UNIT IS CONSTRUCTED OF PREDOMINANTLY RECTANGULAR PRECAST SEMI-LIGHWEIGHT STRUCTURAL CONCRETE PANELS WHICH PREFERABLY ARE PRESTRESSED, OF UNIFORM THICKNESS, AND FREE OF ANY OPENINGS OR APERATURES, WHEREBY THEY MAY READILY BE FORMED BY GENERALLY ACCEPTED CONVENTIONAL CONCRETE PRECASTING PRACTICE IN A CONTINUOUS CATSINT OR EXTRUSION OPERATION AND WITHOUT THE NEED FOR INCORPORATING SPECIAL JOINT CONSTRUCTIONS OR CONNECTING MEANS IN THE RESPECTIVE PANESL. EACH UNIT COMPRISES AT LEAST SEVERAL RELATIVELY PARALLEL MULTI-STORY WALLS WHICH ARE FORMED BY MONOLITHIC WALL PANELS EXTENDING CONTINUOUSLY FROM END TO END OF THE UNIT. EACH OF THE UPPER FLOORS IS COMPRISED BY A PAIR OF MONOLITHIC FLOOR PANESL, EACH COEXTENSIVE IN WIDTH WITH THE UNIT AND EXTENDING BETWEEN AND SUPPORTED ON THE WALL PANEL, THE TWO FLOOR PANELS OF EACH FLOOR BEING RELATIVELY SPACED APART LONGITUDINALLY OF THE UNIT TO PROVIDE AN OPENING WHICH RECEIVES A PREFABRICATED MULTIP-STORY UTILITY CAPSULE OR CORE CONTAINING THE VARIOUS KITCHEN, BATHROOM, HEATING AIR CONDITIONING, ELECTRICAL AND OTHER EQUIPMENT. MONOLITHIC RIGID STABILIZER PANELS COEXTENSIVE IN HEIGHT WITH THE BUILDING UNIT, ARE LOCTED AT EITHER END OF THE UNIT IS SPACED APART RELATION TO PROVIDE A MULTI-STORY WINDOW AND DOORS OPENINGS, AND ARE FIXEDLY CONNECTED TO THE RESPECTIVE WALL PANELS AND FLOOR SLABS TO IMPART LATERAL STABILITY TO THE UNIT. THE ROOF ALSO WITH THE WIDTH OF THE BUILDING AND SPANNING ALL OF THE WALLS THEREOF TO BE SUPPORTED ON THE UPPER EDGES OF SAID WALLS. THE INTERCONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE VARIOUS PANELS AND SLABS MAY BE SIMPLY ACHIEVED BY CONVENTIONAL EXPANSION BOLTS, WITHOUT NECESSITY FOR PROVISION OF SPECIAL JOINT CONFIGURATIONS OR INSERTS FOR CONNECTING PURPOSES. PRECAST UNITARY STAIR FLIGHTS EXTENDING DIAGONALLY BETWEEN THE BASE SLAB AND WALLS OR WELL AS DIRECTED BETWEEN THE WALLS DURING THE ERECTION THEREOF AS WELL AS THEREAFTER.

NOV. 9, 1971 W J, MOUTON, JRH E'TAL 3,618,278

MULTIPLE STORY MULTIPLE UNIT BUILDING Filed May 8, 1970 4 Sheets-Sheet 1WML/4M J Mavim Je. /V/a 4. 5r/MEV 5)/ uw, Mina/ ATO/VEYS NOV. 9, 1971WHL MOUTON, JR ETAL 3,618,278

v v MULTIPLE STORY MULTIPLE UNIT BUILDING Filed May 8, 1970 4Sheets-Sheet 2 BEDQOOM BEDROOM NOV. 9, 1971 W MOUTON, JR EVAL 3,618,218

MULTIPLE STORY MULTIPLE UNIT BUILDING Filed May 8, 1970 4 Sheets-Sheet 5Nov. 9, 1971 w.J. MOUTON, JR.. EVAL MULTIPLE STORY MULTIPLE UNITBUILDING 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Filed May 8. 1970 e. @w M mm l@ UY E E0 N WMM d MM United States PatentO 3,618,278 MULTIPLE STORY MULTIPLE UNIT BUILDING William J. Mouton,Jr., P.O. BX 10515, New Orleans, La. 70121, and Will A. Stacy, 604Mansfield Road, Silver Spring, Md. 20910 Filed May 8, 1970, Ser. No.35,656 Int. Cl. E04f 11/00; E04h 1/04 U.S. Cl. 52-185 10 Claims ABSTRACT0F THE DISCLOSURE A multiple story multiple unit building in which eachunit is constructed of predominantly rectangular precastsemi-lightweight structural concrete panels which preferably areprestressed, of uniform thickness, and free of any openings orapertures, whereby they may readily be formed by generally acceptedconventional concrete precasting practice in a continuous casting orextnusion operation and without the need for incorporating special jointconstructions or connecting means in the respective panels. Each unitcomprises at least several relatively parallel multi-story walls whichare formed by 'monolithic wall panels extending continuously from end toend of the unit. Each of the upper floors is comprised by a pair ofmonolithic floor panels, each coextensive in width with the unit andextending between and supported on the wall panels', the two floorpanels of each fioor being relatively spaced apart longitudinally of theunit to provide an opening which receives a prefabricated multi-storyutility capsule or core containing the various kitchen, bathroom,heating, air conditioning, electrical and other equipment. Monolithicrigid stabilizer panels coextensive in height with the building unit,are located at either end of the unit in spaced apart relation toprovide a multi-story window and doors openings, and are lixedlyconnected to the respective wall panels and floor slabs to impartlateral stability to the unit. The roof also with the width of thebuilding and spanning all of the walls thereof to be supported on theupper edges of said walls. The interconnections between the variouspanels and slabs may be simply achieved by conventional expansion bolts,without necessity for provision of special joint configurations orinserts for connecting purposes. Precast unitary stair flights extendingdiagonally between the base slab and walls as well as directly betweenthe walls during the erection thereof as well as thereafter.

This invention relates to improvements in a building unit constructed ofprecast concrete panels.

It has heretofore been known to form buildings of precast concrete slabsor panels interconnected to form all of the major components of thestructure, including the floors, walls and roof. However, in the past,it has been customary to form each of the walls of a plurality ofcomparatively small interconnected panels or slabs of varying shapes andsizes, some of which are required to be moulded or cast with window anddoor openings therein, as well as with special structural provision forjoining or connecting them to adjoining panels. This has requiredexpensive production equipment and the complex assembly of a greatnumber and variety of Prefabricated slabs and panels, many of which dueto their special configurations, must be especially located and orientedin the building structure. In addition, there are required numerousinterconnections of these parts often by special means requiring theexpenditure of considerable time and effort.

With these considerations in mind, it is the broad primary object of thepresent invention to provide an extremely economical and simplifiedconstruction of a multiple unit building, in which each unit isconstructed of ice a minimum number of monolithic concrete panels orslabs capable of assembly by a minimum number of operations, all ofwhich may be formed free of any door or window openings, such as mightinterfere with the prestressing wires or cables embedded in andextending longitudinally of the respective panels.

It is a particular object to provide such a construction in which thevarious slabs and panels may be of uniform thickness and formed on asimple casting and prestressing bed by a conventional paving machine, bycontinuous casting or concrete extrusion operations, the panels beingpreferably of semi-light Weight, employing expanded clay or otherinsulating aggregate, while yet being waterproof, whereby they may beassembled to form a structure which is weatherproof, fireproof, andvermin proof, as well as one in which the surfaces of the panels requirebut a minimum of pointing and finishing operations such as painting inorder to provide the finished interior and exterior wall, ceiling andoor surfaces for the structure.

In accordance with the invention, all of the panels or slabs are of alength coextensive with either the length or width of the building unit,and all wall panels are equal in height to a single story of the unit sothat all panels are at least room size and but a minimum number ofpanels and joints are required. The panels or slabs are predominantly ofrectangular configuration of uniform thickness and free of any openingstherethrough, to facilitate their production by continuous concretecasting operations. Only the gable panels are other than rectangular andthese are capable of formation by the use of temporary mould insertsalong one edge of the mould or casting bed, without interruption of thecontinuous casting process.

Endwise stability of each unit is achieved by the monolithic wall panelsextending parallel to each other from end to end of the unit, with themonolithic floor panels or slabs spanning and supported on the upperedges of the wall panels and extending between the wall panels of theseveral stories of the structure.

Sidewise, stability is achieved by a novel arrangement of monolithic endpanels, each extending for the full height of the unit and bolted orotherwise connected to the several vertically aligned wall panels of therespective side walls as Well as to the several adjacent floor slabs.

Relative lateral spacing of the end panels or stabilizer panels atopposite ends of the unit affords provision for door and windowopenings. Similarly, each of the upper floors comprises a pair ofrelatively spaced apart ioor panels or slabs defining between them acentral opening coextensive in height with the building to define astair well and also affording space for reception of a prefabricatedmulti-story core or capsule containing the Ikitchen, bathroom, heatingand air conditioning equipment and the like and which, by virtue of itscentral location, is accessible to the rooms at both the front and rearof the unit.

The use of post-production drilled-in expansion bolts for connecting thevarious panels and slabs eliminates the necessity for formation ofspecial joints or connecting means in the panels and slabs.

The panels and/ or slabs are all prestressed in the direction of theirlength, to provide maximum strength, and to take up shrinkage of thesemi-light weight concrete. When used as floor slabs, such panels aremedially supported by the intermediate wall panels therebeneath, thuscreating a reversal of stress at their mid-portions.

By Way of exemplification of the invention, the preferred embodimentthereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a plan of the first dioor of a building unit of the invention,together with parts of adjacent units.

FIG. 2 is a plan of the second floor.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged front elevation.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical section on the line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged rear elevation.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the stair assembly.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the roofconstruction.

FIG. 9 is a rear elevation prior to installation of the door and windowpanels.

FIGS. 10, 11, 12 and 13 are all greatly enlarged detail sections in avertical plane through the juncture of one of the walls with a tioor.

FIGS. 14 and 15, respectively, are detail plan elevations on a largescale showing how the stabilizing panels are secured to the adjacentwall and lloor panels.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings, FIG. l is a oorplan of the first floor of a building unit U, in accordance with thepreferred embodiment of the invention. The unit is shown as beingdivided into a pair of identical symmetrically arranged town houses H-H,separated by a vertical wall 14 along a vertical plane of symmetry, theunit being interposed in a row of similar units which are respectivelyoffset in an endwise direction with respect to each other whereby theoutside side-walls of each unit may be buttressed by the end walls ofadjoining units, the adjoining units being shown but fragmentarily inthe accompanying drawings.

It will be seen that the building unit of the preferred embodimentincludes a rectangular horizontal base slab of concrete which may eitherbe precast or poured in place in accordance with generally conventionalpractice.

The major structural components of the units which rests on the baseslab 10, including the bearing walls, oors and roof all comprise precastconcrete panels which may be formed by a conventional concrete castingor extrusion process through the use, for instance, of conventional roadpaving machinery, without the necessity for provision of any holes oropenings in the panels, the various panels and slabs being assembled ina manner to leave spaces between certain of them to provide door andwindow openings at the ends of the unit and to provide between the oorslab and roof a yvertical well for reception of stairs and a utilitycapsule containing kitchen, bathrooms and utilities.

lhe panels are poured or extruded by the paving niachine onto arectangular casting bed having longitudinal prestressing cables or wiressupported thereover under tension, to be embedded in the panels.Tensioning of the wires or cables is maintained until the concrete hassubstantially cured, following which the poured concrete may bte cut,dby saving, Lo the desired lengths to form the pres resse pane s o t einven i those Skilled in the art' ton, all as will be apparent to Allthat is then necessary to adapt the respective panels for assembly inthe building unit is the boring of properly located holes whereby thepanels and slabs may be interconnected to each other in the unit by theuse of large expansion bolts. Such assembly method eliminates the needfor placing of embedded inserts in the slabs and is of iniportance asmaking possible a continuous casting technique and resulting massproduction. Preferably, the panels are formed of waterproof light weightconcrete having substantial soundproofing and heat insulating propertiesas well as being fireproof, vermin and termite proof. For forming suchpanels, it is desirable to employ as aggregate such light weightinsulating materials as expanded clay, shale or ily ash, in place of theconventional gravel. There is thus achieved the objective of a buildingunit constructed predominantly of precast imperforate bearing walls,floors and roof, all of which may be formed by a continuous extrusionoperation and cut to size as required without the provision therein ofdoor, window openings, stair WellS, 0f

the like, which might interfere with or interrupt the pretensioningWires, or the embedding of connecting members.

Now referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 5, the unit U thereinillustrated is a multiple story unit comprised of at least severalrelatively parallel and identical multistory walls 12, 14 and 16,extending from end to end of the base slab in spaced relation. In thecompleted unit each such Wall comprises a plurality of single storyprecast monolithic wall panels each coextensive in length with the unitU. Each of the walls is identical with the illustrated in FIG. 5 inwhich the wall 12 coinprises vertically supei'posed monolithic panels121, 122, and 123, coextensive in length, respectively, with the first,second and third floors of the unit. The base slab 10 defines the firstoor of the unit and the second and third floors thereof, respectively,are defined by rectangular floor slabs or panels 18-18 and 20-20, eachof which is of similar construction to the wall panels and precast inthe same manner as such panels. Each such oor slab 18 and 20 iscoextenesive in width with the unit U. 4It spans all of the walls 12, 14and 16 of the unit, extending between the vertically superposed panelsof each wall in a manner such that each floor slab 18 and 20 issupported on the wall panels therebeneath and serves as `a base orsupport for the wall panels thereabove.

Where the roof of the unit is to be other than fiat and horizontal, theupper panel of each wall will have its upper edge cut or sawed to shapeaccordingly. Thus, where a gable roof is employed, the several uppermostor third floor wall panels will be gable panels identical to the gablepanel 123 of FIG. 5, in which the two oppositely pitched upper end edgesof the panel converge upwardly to a peak or ridge at 24. The roof panels22 span the upper edges of of the several walls 12, 14 and 16. Where theoppositely sloping roof panels meet at the ridge 24, their adjacentedges, each being at right angles to the panel, form a V- shaped groovewhich preferably is filled with expansive cement grout 25. After beingapplied to the building and as illustrated in FIG. 8, the roof panels 22and the joints therebetween are preferably covered with rigid sheetinsulation 27 which, in turn, is covered with conventional shingles 29or other roofing material.

In the building unit as thus far described, the several walls 12, 14 and16, are each constructed of vertically superposed monolithic panels,each extending continuously from end to end of the unit U and parallelto each other. They thus afford ample endwise stability for thestructure.

For interconnecting the several vertically supei'posed panels of each ofthe relatively remote side-walls 12 and 16 to maintain them rigidly incommon vertical planes, there are provided, at the opposite ends of theunit, pairs of front and rear end panels or stabilizer panels 26-26 and28-28 respectively. Each stabilizer panel 26 and 28 is of rigid unitaryor monolithic construction extending continuously from the base slab 10to the roof slabs 22. It will be seen from FIG. 4 that the rearstabilizer panels 28-28 are disposed normally to their respective walls12 and 16 in endwise abutment therewith. They are corinected to each ofthe panels of such walls by suitable means such as conventionalexpansion bolts 31, whereby to strongly reinforce such walls againstlateral deflection. The front stabilizer panels 26-26 are in overlappingrelation with their associated walls 12 and 16, respectively. and alsoare connected to the respective panels of each wall by expansion boltsor other conventional means. As may be seen in FIGS. 1-4, the stabilizerpanels 26`26 and 28-28 of each pair extend toward each other in a commonplane, with their adjacent inner edges spaced substantially from eachother and from the intermediate wall 14, to cooperate with the wall 14in defining multistory door and window openings 30-30 and 32-32, atopposite ends of the unit (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) extending from thebase slab 10 to the overlying roof panels 22 of the unit, and onopposite sides of the vertical plane of symmetry defined by the wall 14.In the lower portion of each such opening 30-30 may be disposed aprefabricated panel structure including a front entrance door 36 andadjoining windows 38 opening into each of the dwellings on oppositesides of the medial wall 14, all as shown in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the upper portions of the front openings areframed on opposite sides b-y forwardly projecting panels 40 secured toand projecting forwardly from the relatively opposed inner verticaledges of the front stabilizer panels 26-26, and the correspondingportions of the intermediate wall 14 similarly are projected forwardlyto define bay windows having floor portions 42 of similar shape and sizeand consisting of small auxiliary concrete slabs extending between andsecured to the respective panels 40 and their immediate wall 14. Theupper portions of the front openings 30 between the walls 12, I14 and 16are then occupied by prefabricated front wall land window panels 44 forthe two upper stories of the front of the building unit. The openings 32at the rear end of the unit may have disposed therein suitable door andwindow panels such as 46, 48 and 50, respectively.

An important feature of the building unit is the arrangement of the twofloor slabs 18-18 of the second floor, and the two floor slabs 2020 ofthe third floor in such manner that each pair 18-18 and 20-20 of slabsabove the base slab 10 are relatively spaced apart in an endwisedirection to leave vertical openings or wells 52 (FIG. 5) for the fullheight of the unit between the base slab and the roof for the respectivedwellings H-H on opposite sides of the intermediate wall 14. Each suchopening 52 1s employed in part to define a stair well for its associateddwelling and in part for reception of a multi-story rig1d utilitycapsule, generally designated 54, extending for the full height of theopening 52 and adapted to contain bathrooms, kitchen, heating and airconditioning eq-uipment, water, gas, sewer piping, and all electricalwiring for the dwelling.

`One outer side of each capsule 54 is disposed flush against an outer orrelatively remote Wall 12 or 16 of the unit and, though not necessarilyaffixed to said wall, may serve as a means for initially positioning andsupporting the respective wall panels during building of the unit.

It will be appreciated that the capsule '54 of each unit occupies only aportion of the area of the opening or well of its respective unit, beingflush against the outer wall thereof, but spaced from the intermediatewall 14 thereof to provide a hall way establishing communication betweenthe front and the rear of the dwelling. To provide a floor for thisspace in each of the symmetrically arranged dwellings of the unit and asshown in FIG. 5, a small rectangular floor slab `56 common to bothdwellings extends through the space between the relatively spaced apartportions of the wall panels -141 and 142 and 142 and 142 of theintermediate wall 14, being rigidly affixed to the underlying wall panel141 or 142 as by means of the expansion bolts or in other conventionalmanner.

The remaining portion of each vertical opening 52 is occupied -by stairswhich, in the present invention, are comprised of separate monolithicprecast reinforced concrete structures or flights, each of whichincludes one or more landings as an integral portion thereof.

Referring specifically to the arrangement of the stairs as illustratedin FIGS. and 7 of the drawings, the stairs which extend from the firstfloor or base slab to the second floor 18 of each dwelling H, comprisetwo relatively reversely arranged flights 62 and 66, respectively. Thelower end of the first flight 62 is secured or anchored in suitablemanner to the base slab 10 in spaced relation to the adjacentintermediate wall 14 and has an integral landing `64 which is securelyanchored to the adjacent outer wall midway between floors. The lowerflight 62 thus constitutes a diagonal brace between the floor slab 10and its associated outer wall.

The second stair flight 66 includes a lower landing 68 which is anchoredto the outer wall at the level of and contiguously with the landing 64,while its upper landing 70, at a common level with the floor slabs1^8-18 and 56, is firmly anchored to the inner or intermediate wall 14,the flight 66 thus diagonally interconnecting and mutually crossqbracingthe inner and outer walls 12 and 14, respectively.

The third stair llight 72 has its lower landing also at the level of theslabs 18-18 and 56 and the landing 70, and is firmly anchored or securedto the medial wall 14 contiguously to the landing 70. By reference toFIG. 5, it will be apparent that the landings 70 and 74 together withthe slab 56, jointly span the space between the front and rear secondfloor slabs 1-8-18.

The third flight of stairs 72 extends diagonally upwardly from thesecond floor and medially between the second and third floors isprovided with a horizontal upper landing 76 which is anchored to theouter wall 12 at the same level as the lower landing 78 of the fourthstair flight 80. This last mentioned flight 80 extends diagonallybetween the outer wall 12 and intermediate wall 14 and has its upperhorizontal landing 812` anchored to the inner wall 14 at the level ofthe floor slabs 20-20 and the intervening slab 56. The distance or spacebetween this landing Y82 and the front floor slab 20 is then occupied bya small slab 84 which extends horizontally 'between the relativelyvertically spaced apart wall panels 142 and 142 of the intermediatewall, resting on and anchored to the upper edge of the intermediate wallpanel 142 in the same manner as the adjoining slab 56, so as toy becommon to the dwellings on opposite sides of the intermediate wall.

It will thus be seen that all of the stair flights, except for thelowermost flights 62 extend diagonally between and interconnect theopposite side walls of each dwelling H to contribute substantially tothe lateral stability of these walls.

It will be readily apparent that a building having its variousinterconnected units U constructed in the manner and by the means abovedescribed is capable of a novel and extremely simplified method ofassembly by comparatively unskilled workmen and from a minimum number ofcomponents, of which the primary structural components consist ofprecast monolithic concrete parts, capable of formation by a continuouscasting process in which all of the components, except for the gablepanels of the Walls, are of rectangular configuration and coextensive ineither length or breadth with the unit. Further, it is of considerableimportance that it is unnecessary to provide window or door openings inthe respective slabs or panels or to position inserts therein for use insubsequent assembling of the parts.

Reverting briefly to the description of the stairs, it will Ibe notedthat, in the preferred embodiment, for anchoring each landing to one ofthe building walls, the landing may be arranged as exemplified in FIG. 7of the drawings in which it will be seen that the end edge of eachlanding is castellated or notched as at 86 and is spanned by a rigidmetal anchor plate y88 adapted to rest flush against the wall and havingbolt holes therein abreast of the notches or castellation 86 throughwhich expansion bolts or other connectors may be inserted and embeddedwithin the building walls, the notches or castellations 86 thereafterbeing filled with grout.

It has previously been explained that the various panels may beinterconnected to each other by the use of expansion bolts or the likedisposed in bores which are drilled in the respective panels subsequentto their casting or moulding.

For more specific examplifications of such interconnections referencelis made first to FIG. l0 of the accompanying drawings exemplifying theinterconnection between one of the iloor panels or slab 18 and theintermediate wall panels 141 and 142. As previously explained, the

floor slab or panel 18 passes over and has its mid-portion resting onand supported by the lower intermediate wall slab 141 whereas the secondstory wall panel 14.2 rests on and is supported on the floor panel 18 invertical registry with the wall panel 14.1. Suitable metal studs ordowels 92, located at suitable intervals extend vertically through anenlarged bore in the floor 18, with the opposite ends of each such dowelreceived in relatively aligned blind bores extending into the edges ofthe respective wall panels 141 and 142. The bores preferably are filledwith grout to firmly anchor the stud therein. It will be seen that thevertically superposed sect-ions of each intermediate wall 14 areinterconnected through the intervening floor slabs or panels 18 by thestuds 92.

FIG. 11 shows how the end of the adjoining floor slabs 18-18 ofrelatively adjacent building units U are fixed in and terminate betweenthe vertically superposed wall panels such as 121 and 122 of one of therelatively remote walls of each unit where such wall is a party wallbetween adjoining units. In this arrangement, the adjoining ends of thefloor slabs 18-18 are slightly spaced apart and firmly united by grout93, lead shims being employed as in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 shows the juncture between the floor panel 0r slab 18 and thewall panels 121 and 122 where the latter are employed in an outside orend wall of the building structure rather than in a party wall. In suchevent, the slab 18 is interconnected to both of the walls 121 and 122 bya rigid metal dowel or stud 92 in the same manner above described inconnection with FIG. 10, the outer end edge of the oor slab extending toa location nearly flush with the outer surfaces of the wall panels 121and 122 and preferably begin covered with a fiber glass flashing 94.

FIG. 13 shows the juncture between the floor panel 18 and wall 16, wherethe wall 16 projects beyond the adjoining unit. In such case, since thefioor panel 18 extends only part way through the space between wallpanels 161 and 162, the rest of such space is occupied by a suitablefillet 95.

FIG. 14 is a plan section at the juncture of one of the front stabilizerpanels 26 with one of the relatively remote side wall panels 121,showing how the expansion bolts 31 are employed to connect thestabilizer panel 26 with both the wall panel 123 and the floor panel 18,when the stabilizer panel 26 is in overlapping relation to the wall 12.

In FIG. 15, on the other hand, there is shown the manner in which thestabilizer panel 28 is connected to the wall panel 122 and adjacentfloor 18 by means of the expansion bolts or studs 31, when thestabilizer is in buttressing relation of the wall 12 as at the rear ofthe lefthand dwelling H of FIG. 1.

PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTION In erecting a building unit accordance with theinvention, after firstpouring or placing the base slab 10, the utilitycapsules 54-54 are installed in free standing relation on the slab andaccurately located -with respect to the dwellings or dwelling unitswhich they are to serve, the capsule 54 preferably being firmly anchored0r secured to the base slab 10 in any suitable manner.

The plefabricated first floor wall panels 121, 141 and 161 are thensuccessively positioned in any desired order on the slab 10 and firmlyconnected thereto as by expansion bolts, anchored in the slab andextending into the edges of the said panels at suitable intervals.

The relatively remote or outer walls 121 and 162, respectively, of theunit are positioned flush against the relatively remote outer faces ofthe earlier installed utility capsules 54. The capsules thus aid in theaccurate location and positioning of the respective outer walls. Boththe outer wall panels and the inner wall panel 141 are then temporarilyheld in fixed upright position, while the stair fiights 62 and 66 areinstalled, the stair flights 62 serving as diagonal braces between thebase slab 10 and the outer walls 12 and 16, while the fiights 66 serveas diagonal connections between the upper edge of the intermediate wallspanel 141 and each outer wall panel to thus provide a rigid means forsupporting the respective panels in proper vertical positions duringsubsequent erection operations, as well as to afford permanent bracesfor said wall panels.

Preferably the stabilizer panels 2626 and 28-28 are then accuratelypositioned and securely connected by expansion bolts or otherwise to therespective outer sidewall panels 121 and 161 to afford further lateralreinforcing and stabilization for these panels as well as to facilitateaccurate placement of the further slabs and panels. As has beenheretofore mentioned, it will be noted that all of the panels 121, 141and 161 are of monolithic construction and coetxensive in length withthe building unit so as to extend continuously from front to rearthereof, these panels being of rectangular configuration and preferablybeing free of any openings or 4insert except for prestressing ortensioning means contained therein.

Then the fioor panels 18-18 are lifted into place by a suitable crane orother power equipment and installed in relatively endwise spaced apartrelation at the front rear respectively, of the said unit, on oppositesides of the previously installed utility capsules and stair flights.Also at this time the auxiliary or hall fioor panel 56 is disposedacross the upper edge of the underlying intermediate wall panel 141 andspans the distance between the relatively spaced-apart utility capsules54, being suitably anchored by expansion bolts 58 to the underlying wallpanel 141 and also being secured at its ends to the respective utilitycapsules 54.

The second story wall panels 122, 142 and 162 are then placed invertical position on the floor slabs 18-18 in vertical planes common tothe respective wall panels therebeneath. It will be apparent that in theinstallation of the relatively remote second story wall panels 122 and162 these panels may be guided accurately into their proper positions bybringing each such panel into fiush abutting engagement of its innerface with its cooperating utility capsule 54 and stabilizer panel 26,and bringing the rear end of the said panel into abutting relation withits other associated stabilizing panel 28. Following this, the wallpanels 122 and 162 are then firmly bolted or otherwise secured to thestabilizing panels 26 and 28 and their underlying lioor panels or slabs18-18.

The intermediate panel 142 will be temporarily supported in its propervertical position while the second floor stair-flights 72 and 80 arethen installed, the stair flights 72, respectively, serving as diagonalbraces for their respective outer wall panel 162 and the stair flights80 serving as diagonal braces between the outer wall panels and theintermediate wall panel 142 to hold the latter firmly in place duringsubsequent installation of the overlying third floor slabs 20-20. Theslabs 20-20 then are accurately placed in position. The floor slabs20-20 are connected to the upper edges of the intermediate panel 142, aswell as to the stabilizing panels 26, 28. The floor panels or slabs20-20 thus firmly secure the intermediate panel 142 in its properupright position. The hall slab S6, as well as an additional auxiliaryslab 82, are then supported across the upper edge of the wall panel 142and bolted thereto at the level of the panels 20--20 and 82 so as tocooperate with the hall slab 56 and stairlanding 84 in defining acontinuous passage between the floor slab 20-20 from front to rear ofthe structure. It will be noted that on the second floor, the hall slab56 and the two stairlandings and 74 cooperate to define a continuouspassageway between the relatively spaced floor slabs 18-18.

Thereafter, the gable panels 123, 143 and `162 Iare lifted into placeand the outer gable panels 123 and 163 are secured to their cooperatingfront and rear stabilizer panels 26 and 28, and in flush engagement withthe utility capsules 54. The roof slabs 22 are then applied and boltedin place in the positions indicated in FIG. 6, wherein each slab iscoextensive in width with the entire unit, resting on and connected tothe upper edges of all of the gable panels 123, l143 and 163.

It will be apparent that the primary construction will have beencompleted with the application of the roof and that the remainingfinishing steps may be completed in any desired order. These willinclude installation of the bay window side panels 40-'40 and fioorsegments 42, and subsequent installation of the front and rearprefabricated door and window panels 36, 38, 44 and 46, 48 and 50,respectively.

The roof panels 22 after being applied and secured in place, willpreferably be covered by suitable sheets of insulation material appliedthereto in any suitable manner and, in turn, covered by shingles orother appropriate roofing material -which will cover and waterproof boththe insulation as well as the joints between adjoining roof panels.

The structure may be completed by painting both interd sound insulated.It will manifestly be fire-proof, wateru proof and vermin proof.

It will be readily apparent that because of the novel construction abovedescribed, buildings incorporating the construction units of theinvention may be rapidly and economically assembled primarily fromprecast, prestressed concrete slabs formed by a continuous castingprocess and sawed or otherwise cut to size as desired, without thenecessity for formation of any window or door openings or thepositioning therein of any onsertes or other connecting means.

The prestressing of the panels makes possible their casting or mouldingwith ample strength in extremely large sizes from a semi-light weightconcrete which, because of its lightness, permits ready handling andassembly of panels of very large sizes. Moreover, use in the concrete ofan aggregate of relatively light weight and comparatively soft material,such as expanded clay, greatly facilitates the sawing and drillingoperations used for cutting the panels to the desired sizes andsubsequently assembling them in the building structure. Use in thestructure of the gable panels, such as 123, 143 and 163 produces a gableor cathedral ceiling effect which cannot be as easily accomplished inconventional construction. At the same time, such ceiling effectprovides a space for hot and stale air to gather while also affordingadditional insulation in the air space thus provided.

With the multiple story-multiunit building or buildings in accordancewith the invention, it will be apparent that adequate provision is madefor private front and rear entrances, for private vertical access to allspaces, and for both vertical and horizontal cross ventilation duringappropriate seasons without the use of mechanical blowers.

The building system herein described is especially adapted for efficientuse of approved baseboard electrical systems so that electrical conduitsdo not have to be cast into the walls and slabs, but rather theelectrical baseboards may all readily be connected to the electricalterminals within the utility capsule or core.

Manifestly, two-story iand three-story units, in accordance with theinvention, can be added or mixed to provide a means for varying thearchitectural theme. Other varrations may include varying roof slopes,varying set backs, the interspersing of two-story roof lines betweenthreestory structures and also the variation of both the width andlength of the units and their respective wall panels so that the areasof the respective oor plans may be easily changed as desired.

`Configuration of basic plan and panel deslgn allows for economic massproduction of prestressed concrete panels at high volume rate. The paneldesign also facili- 10 tates production by slip forming panels on longbeds using automatic equipment and sawing 4finished panels to exactlengths for post application of bolted connections, as above described.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A multistory multiple unit building in which each unit comprises ahorizontal base slab, at least several relatively parallel multistorywalls extending from end to end of said base-slab in spaced relation,each such wall cornprising a plurality of single-story panels invertically superposed relation, each said panel being of monolithicconcrete construction and coextensive in length with said unit, aplurality of monolithic floor slabs, each coextensive in width with theunit, each floor slab spanning all of said walls and extending betweenthe superposed panels thereof to be supported on the wall panelstherebeneath and to support the wall-panels thereabove, a roofcomprising a plurality of rectangular monolithic concrete roof slabs,each coextensive in width with said unit, each roof slab spanning andsupported on the upper edges of said walls, a pair of concretestabilizer panels respectively connected to the relatively remote saidwalls at each end of the unit, said stabilizer panels of each pairextending inwardly toward each other normally to said walls and beingrelatively spaced apart to define multistory door and window openings atopposite ends of the unit, said stabilizer panels being of rigidmonolithic construction, extending continuously from said base slab tothe roof slabs, each said stabilizer panel being fixedly connected toall of its relatively adjacent slabs and wall panes to provide lateralstability for said building.

2. A building structure as defined in claim 1, further includingprefabricated door and window panels respectively disposed in saidopenings at the ends of the respective building units.

3. A building construction as defined in claim 1, in which the floorslabs of each floor above said base slab are relatively spaced apart inan endwise direction to leave vertical wells in said building betweensaid base slab and the roof and extending between adjacent walls of thebuilding, and means within said wells abutting against and bracing saidrelatively remote walls.

4. A building construction as defined in claim 3, wherein saidlast-mentioned means comprises rigid stairways extending diagonallybetween and anchored to each said relatively remote wall and said baseslab, to provide diagonal and vertical truss-like bracing of said walls.

5. A building construction as defined in claim 3, wherein saidlast-mentioned means includes a pair of rigid utility capsulescoextensive in height with said walls, each said capsule abuttingagainst one of said relatively remote walls and affording lateralstabilization therefor.

6. A building construction as defined in claim 3, including rigidstairways within said well, respectively extending diagonally betweeneach said relatively remote wall panel and a floor slab and fixedlyconnected to each, and a pair of rigid utility capsules coextensive inheight with said relatively remote walls, each capsule abutting againstone of said relatively remote walls.

7. A building construction as defined in claim 3, in which each of saidfioor slabs extends continuously from said vertical wells to an endofthe unit.

8. A building construction as defined in claim A1, in which eachbuilding unit is offset in an endwise direction with respect to adjacentsaid units, the said stabilizing panels at one end of each but theendmost units abutting against said side-walls and the stabilizingpanels at the other end of said last mentioned units overlapping andsecured to the ends of said side-walls.

9. A building construction as defined in claim 1, in which all of saidpanels and slabs are of prefabricated and pre-stressed construction,free of openings and free of inserts other than pre-tensioning means.

10. A building construction as dened in claim 1, in 2,497,887 r- 2/ 1950Hilpert 52-236 which all of said panels and slabs, except for theupper-v 3,304,675 2/1967 Graham-wo0d 52` 236 most wall panels, are ofrectangular configuration. 3 533 204 11/1970 Wallace 52 236 ReferencesCited 5 JOHN E. MURTAGH, Primary Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 952,9853/1910 Ernsberger 52136 U-S- Cl- X-R- 2,139,623 12/1938 Marston 52-23652-206, 220, 236, 262, 264

2,222,037 1l/l940 Lalferty 52-234

